Page 177 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

Chapter 9 Knots and Ropes 161

FIGURE 9.25 Bowline knot first steps.

FIGURE 9.27 Bowline final step.

respiration if used around a leg or neck. Usually, the
issue is from making the loop the wrong way.
To untie the knot, grasp and pull the loops in differ-
ent directions, this will loosen it right up, no matter how
tight it is.

Bowline on a Bight
The bowline on a bight creates a non‐slip noose with equal
length ends that can be tied to a fixed object or another part
of the animal. This knot is particularly useful in equine and
large animal practices when securing patients to prevent
kicking or when tying limbs out of the way. The two long
FIGURE 9.26 Bowline second step.
ends can be used to secure legs to the animal’s own body.
hand rope, with the end under the standing part 1. Fold the rope in half, which makes a bight in the
(Figure 9.25). middle of the rope and gives you two long ends. Use
2. Grasp the right hand rope and bring the end up the bight as an end, form a large circle by making a
through the loop, around the standing part, and throw around the two strands of the rope. Make sure
back down through the loop (Figure 9.26). the resulting circle can pass over the head and
3. Tighten the knot by pulling the end up and the around the neck, leg or other body part of the
standing part down. You should see two loops: the animal. Hold the large circle at the top with your left
one made in the standing part and the one made by hand (as indicated by the red arrow); pass your right
the end around the standing part (Figure 9.27). hand fingers through the bight and with your index
finger and thumb, grasp the two strands of the
If the knot slides, you have not tied it correctly and throw, as indicated by the blue arrows (Figure 9.28).
need to retie it so it does not cut off circulation or
2. Drop the top of the circle being held by your left
hand and grasp the bight with your left hand,
indicated by the green arrow. Pull the bight toward
TIP BOX 9.3
the two ends in the direction indicated by the green
To remember how to tie the bowline, use this saying: “The arrow. At the same time pull the two strands in your
rabbit comes out of the hole, goes around the tree, and right fingers in the opposite direction as indicated
back into the hole.” by the red arrow (Figure 9.29).